Amit Shah Vows to Make Punjab Drug-Free by December 31, 2029; Calls for CBI Probe into Three Drug-Related Murders.
Ludhiana:
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Tuesday participated in the Vijayadashami celebrations in Ludhiana, Punjab, where he symbolically burnt the effigy of Ravana representing ‘Chitta’ (drugs), calling for a united fight against the drug menace in the state.
Addressing the gathering, Shah announced a resolve to free Punjab from the drug trade by December 31, 2029. He said that eliminating drugs would be a fitting tribute to those who had lost their lives in the fight against the menace.
Shah said that he had heard since childhood that Ludhiana was the place to witness Ravana Dahan, adding that the local Ramlila Committee had been organising the event for around 200 years. He described the burning of Ravana’s effigy as a symbol of the victory of good over evil and said Vijayadashami also reminded people to overcome evils such as ego, pride and greed.
The Home Minister said he had met families at three locations in Punjab who had lost their sons in the fight against drugs. Recalling their grief and concerns, he said their tears, questions and pain deeply affected him.
Shah said the Punjab government had handed over the investigation into one murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He urged the state government to transfer the investigations into two other murders to the central agency as well. He asserted that those responsible would be brought to justice, irrespective of their influence, once the investigations were handed over to the CBI.
Appealing to the people of Punjab to cooperate in the campaign against drugs, Shah urged citizens to share information about drug trafficking through the Narcotics Control Bureau’s toll-free helpline. He assured them that the government would act on such information.
Highlighting the Centre’s record, Shah referred to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, efforts against terrorism and the campaign against Naxalism. He said the government was committed to tackling the drug menace with similar determination.
Shah reiterated that the goal of making Punjab drug-free by December 31, 2029, would require collective efforts from the government and citizens.
